Wednesday, 3 July 2013

Curler banned for steroid use

Curler banned for steroid use

Canadian curler Matt Dumontelle, an alternate on Team Jacobs, will serve a two-year ban after testing
positive for Methandienone Metabolites, an anabolic steroid, following
the gold-medal game at the World Men’s Curling Championship in Victoria
earlier this year.

Dumontelle said that he was unaware that a workout supplement he was using contained the banned drug.

From the Toronto Sun:

“I had no intentions of trying to beat the system,” he said. “I was made
aware by our Canadian Curling Association High Performance staff of my
responsibilities to respect and follow the rules as set down by the
World Anti-Doping Agency. At the end of the day I accept that it was,
and is, my responsibility to make sure that I am playing by those
rules.”

However, saying that, Team Jacobs will have to face tighter scrutiny (unfairly) this upcoming season. The whispers (again, unfairly) will be there. Being known for their large biceps plus having a teammate busted for steroid use will make people gossip. Is it fair? No, they are innocent until proven guilty. But it's human nature.

Curling has changed a lot in the last 10-15 years. It's more athletic and the new breed of curler will be built more like a football linebacker rather than a football punter.